Mohammad-Javad Larijani, head of the Judiciary's Human Rights Headquarters

A senior Iranian official has criticized the international human rights organizations for remaining silent in the face of brutal crackdowns on protesters in in the Middle East and North Africa.

"The silence of the international organizations vis-à-vis human rights violations in the Middle East and North Africa is scandalous," Mohammad-Javad Larijani, head of the Judiciary's Human Rights Headquarters said.

Larijani noted that the West, particularly the US, considers itself the advocate of human rights and issues resolutions against Iran for alleged rights abuse.

He went on to state that Iran is the biggest democracy and supporter of human rights while the West's allies “in the Middle East and North Africa are criminals and despots.”

“It goes without saying that Bahraini and Saudi rulers who play an important role in the genocide of people will not succeed,” Larijani added.

Referring to the behind-the-scene role of the US in the crackdown on Middle East and North Africa nations, Larijani said that after failure of the scenario of Saudi troops in Bahrain the US might play a direct role in the crackdowns itself.

“Saudis failed in Yemen and there is no doubt that they will also fail in Bahrain,” he added.

Larijani noted that the US and its allies pursue a three-stage strategy in their crackdown on popular, regional uprisings.

“The first stage is suppression which has not been successful anywhere. The second stage is containment and the third is diversion,” the Iranian official added.

Dozens of protesters have been killed and scores of others have been injured since the uprising began in Bahrain in mid-February.

Many journalists, bloggers, doctors, lawyers and opposition activists have also been arrested as part of a widespread crackdown on anti-regime protests.

Protesters are demanding an end to the 40-year rule of the Al Khalifa dynasty.

Protesters say they will continue their street demonstrations until their demands for freedom, constitutional monarchy as well as a proportional voice in the government are met.